Sage Plant Plant Care

Sage Plant (Salvia officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Salvia genus. Sage Plant is native to Northern Mediterranean. Sage Plant is also known as Common Sage, Garden Sage, Sage.

Sage Plant displays a compact, bushy growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Sage Plant produces small, tubular, lavender to purplish-blue flowers that grow in whorls along the plant's elongated spikes.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Sage Plant every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Sage Plant thrives in full sun.

Salvia officinalis tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Sage Plant prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining soil mix. Good drainage is essential for Sage Plant to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Sage Plant every 7 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining soil mix. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Sage Plant is suited to USDA Zone 5a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Sage Plant can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Sage Plant while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Sage Plant is hardy down to USDA zone 5a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Sage Plant can be propagated through stem cuttings, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to white sage plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Sage Plant is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Sage Plant grows outdoors in USDA Zone 5a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 5a. Sage Plant is native to Northern Mediterranean.